Long Range Plan Committee December 20, 2007

Long Range Plan Review Committee

Minutes
December 20, 2007

Members in Attendance:
Harry Amend* Susan Clayton Doug Jaworski Teri Nipp Tami Stroud
Jerry Anderson Scott Fischer* Mary Larson Dave Patzer John Swallow
Rosie Astorquia* Lana Hamilton Kathy Liverman Tamara Poelstra Tom Trotter*
Jody Azevedo Chris Hammons Bryan Martin* Pam Pratt* Michelle Williams
Hazel Bauman* Katie Harris Jill Neal Ronnie Semko
Jean Bengfort* Sharalee Howard Vern Newby* Lori Smith

*Ex-officio members

Welcome:
Doug Jaworski called the meeting to order at 4:37 p.m. The meeting was held at the Midtown Center meeting room. Doug introduced Teri Nipp, Dr. Tom Trotter and Jean Bengfort.

Approval of the November 12, 2007 Minutes:
Motion by Jerry Anderson to approve the November 12, 2007 minutes, second by Dave Patzer, approved unanimously.

Review of Levy Input:
Harry, Hazel, Pam and Rosie went out to each of the schools and departments in order to receive their levy input. Rosie reported that a ballot was provided to everyone listing the 6 challenges that were discussed at the last Long Range Planning meeting. They were asked to mark an “x” next to three items that they felt needed to be considered for the next levy. The committee was provided with the input results. Lakes received the highest number of votes. Approximately 80% of the staff felt that it should be built new with the urban design. In terms of expansion, Winton was talked about the most.

Pam Pratt attended the business community meetings (LCDC, Concerned Businesses, Kootenai Perspectives, Chamber Education Committee and Board). She reported that they were not provided with a ballot but were asked questions and notes were taken. She shared some of the notes she took:
• Lakes needs to be addressed first and built new with the revitalization of downtown and the core areas
• Professional-technical is very important, look at private partnerships in order to provide opportunities (add to Lakes or the high schools)
• Liked the idea of a school of choice for Lakes or a magnet in order to relieve the load from the other middle schools
• A 2-year S.P.F.L. will allow us to target the needs at the time. It is too hard to project too far into the future. Keep it under $30,000,000.
• Very important to present a 10-year facility plan to the community (give us your vision)
• There is cost savings with a bond but it would be too large an amount for the community (not ready right now)
• Buying property for future growth is very wise and important to do now
• Run a 4-year levy so the administration can spend more time on education and less time campaigning

Discussion followed regarding professional-technical. Hazel stated that nobody questioned the need of having technology on the S.P.F.L. (stable source of funding). Jean Bengfort explained that we are currently operating with $411,000 from the Maintenance & Operations Levy (M & O). There is currently only $20,000 remaining of the $411,000. That is not enough money to purchase the 660 computers needed to replace computers that are 5 years old. The S.P.F.L. would generate enough money to accomplish this. Jean will provide a technology planning spreadsheet to Cheri and she will e-mail it out to the committee.

10-Year Plan:
The committee was provided with the District’s 10-year plan for facilities. Hazel explained that this plan is very “drafty” and that the numbers are estimates using present day values (a little was added for inflation). The plan is also flexible in case something happens in the interim. The intent is to help the community see what the big picture is of the all the facility needs throughout the District. The community continually questions why the District asks for a levy every year. Hazel explained that, assuming that we are going to have an S.P.F.L. in May 2008, the committee needs to decide where to go after that. Do we have four 2-year S.P.F.L.’s, two 4-year S.P.F.L.’s or go for one bond? People in the business community feel that right now we need to go forward with an S.P.F.L. but start educating everyone about the advantages of a bond, start with the Long Range Planning Committee and then educate the constituents and perhaps in 2010 a bond could be run. Preliminarily it appears a bond could save taxpayers money. Questions followed regarding the order of the projects. Hazel explained that the order of the projects beginning in 2010 will be up for discussion but her hope is that this does not have to be complete prior to making a recommendation to the Board for the projects for 2008.

The committee made the following comments:

• What does the District already own and what are the values of these properties? A spreadsheet will be provided at the next meeting.
• What about making a property swap rather than putting property acquisition on the S.P.F.L.?
• We need a new elementary school on this S.P.F.L. It doesn’t make sense to move back into Hayden Lake Elementary.
• Remove property acquisition, use Hayden Lake Elementary as a transition school until a new school is built (Northshire) and then sell it for property for a future elementary, middle and high school.
• Is Lakes really going to cost $24,000,000? The design has already been paid for. The $19,000,000 cost for the building in 2005 was for everything (construction, demolition, design, etc.). The $4,500,000 in the bank could pay for property. The numbers need to be fine tuned. Scott Fischer felt Lakes could be built for $185 per square foot.
• Building a new Lakes does not create more space. The public would like to see more space to accommodate for the growth.
• Winton should be listed again in 2012 (10-year plan). This will be corrected and resent.
• We need some extra cushion room so we have enough money and word it carefully that if we have extra it could be put into land acquisition.
• Is $7,500,000 enough to build a new elementary? Per Scott Fischer, a more realistic number would be $8,500,000.
• Remember in order to pass a bond it takes 66 2/3% (super majority) and an S.P.F.L. 55%.

Hazel listed the District property holdings on the white board and used $50,000/acre for the values:
• Northshire – 7 acres (keep) $350,000
• Property across from Woodland – 5 acres (sell) $250,000
• Hayden Lake Elementary – 6 acres (use for transition, then sell) $2,200,000
• Bryan Playfield – 1 acre (political) $50,000
• Person’s Field – 3 acres (political) $150,000
• Thomas Lane – 10 acres (keep) $500,000
• Fields behind Hayden Meadows – 10 acres (?) $500,000

Committee discussion followed regarding the possibility of building a middle school behind Hayden Meadows and the possibility of building an elementary school on the Canfield site.

In regards to the Winton expansion, Harry explained that the conservation piece (easement) could take over a year to complete. The process has been formally started.

S.P.F.L. Proposal Recommendation:
Motion by Lana Hamilton for a 2- year S.P.F.L. for Lakes Middle School new construction, for technology and a new elementary school at $8,500,000 for a total of $30,000,000. This motion died due to lack of a second. Motion by Lana Hamilton for a 2-year S.P.F.L. that includes $20,000,000 for Lakes Middle School, $1,500,000 for technology, $2,000,000 property acquisition and $8,500,000 for a new elementary school for a total of $30,000,000 ($15,000,000 per year), second by Tamara Poelstra. Lana decided to amend her motion to exclude amounts until the numbers have been refined. Amended motion by Lana Hamilton for a 2-year S.P.F.L. to include the following projects: new construction for Lakes Middle School, technology, property acquisition and a new elementary school for a total of $32,000,000 or less, second by Tamara Poelstra, motion passed 17-2. This will be presented to the Board at their January meeting for information. The numbers will be refined at the next meeting.

Next Meeting:
The next Long Range Planning meeting will be held on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. at the Midtown Center meeting room (this meeting was later cancelled due to a snow day).

Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheri Beard
Administrative Secretary

Home